Abstract
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the ability to self-renew and the potential to differentiate into all body cell types. Stem cells follow a developmental genetic program and are able to respond to alterations in the environment through various signaling pathways. The mechanisms that control these processes involve the activation of transcription followed by a series of post-transcriptional events. These post-transcriptional steps are mediated by the interaction of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with defined subpopulations of RNAs creating a regulatory gene network. Characterizing these RNA-protein networks is essential to understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying the control of stem cell fate. Ribonomics is the combination of classical biochemical purification protocols with the high-throughput identification of transcripts applied to the functional characterization of RNA-protein complexes. Here, we describe the different approaches that can be used in a ribonomic approach and how they have contributed to understanding the function of several RBPs with central roles in stem cell biology.
Highlights
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are found in multicellular organisms both throughout embryonic development and in adult tissues
Adult stem cells remain in small amounts in adult tissues, where they are responsible for tissue repair and homeostasis (Zummo et al, 2007)
Adult stem cells are able to perceive the environment through various signaling pathways that are activated by extracellular molecules and respond to these stimuli by changing their quiescent state via the activation of proliferation or differentiation (Dalton, 2013; Watt and Huck, 2013)
Summary
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are found in multicellular organisms both throughout embryonic development and in adult tissues. These cells have the ability to self-renew and the potential to differentiate into all body cell types. This plasticity makes stem cells especially attractive for use in cell therapies. Embryonic stem cells respond to and follow a developmental genetic program that is triggered by a complex cascade of regulatory molecules. Interaction of RBPs with mRNAs result in complex genetic networks, and their characterization is essential to understand stem cell commitment. We describe the current scenario of RNA-protein networks in stem cells and the different ribonomic approaches used in their identification
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